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Sunday, June 04, 2017

Notes from day one of the Durham City Jazz Festival. June 2.

(Review by Steve T)

I returned home in the early hours
after Friday night wanting to write my review while I was still buzzing but,
with a DJ set to prepare and an early start the next day... I find, writing
this on Sunday morning, I'm still buzzing.

This is a multi-venue event across the
city with the focus on an outdoor area at Fowlers Yard and the Empty Shop Just
across the river. The Empty Shop already has the coolest regular jazz
night in the region and will have made many new friends this weekend, with
its eternally friendly welcome from festival co-creator Carlo and his eternally
patient partner Ali.

Three bands at the Empty Shop meant I
didn't get to the Old Cinema Laundrette for what I believe was their first
foray into Jazz with Mick Shoulders Swing Manouche, but people
began trickling down with reports of a sell-out and a triumph, some who hadn't
heard Lord Edis before, some not realising he was the clarinettist. He
returns to the Festival tonight (Sunday) with Triptych.

Three trios at the Empty Shop on Friday,
first up Senza Frame with a Durham Uni connection and I wasn't
sure at first how up my street it would be, but I quickly came around to their
futuristic grooves from drums, some impressive 'proper' piano playing and a
third playing mostly electronic sounds and occasional sax.

Toon band Taupe next
and the type of free-blowing soundscapes Jazz North East put on at the Bridge
in Newcastle and these were up with the best of them.

With everything that's going on in the
North East, and Durham doing better than most, it feels like we're on the cusp
of something great with Faye MacCalman and Archipelago surely
at the forefront. Fresh from her tour with the Unthanks, they were more
rhythmic and melodic than I'd expected. I always try to buy albums from up and
coming bands but I'd have bought there's anyway and have fast-tracked it to the
top of the ever-growing heap.

Festivals are often as good as their
jam sessions and this was a blinder. With theabsence of a bass,
up-stepped trooper John Pope from Archipelago to give it some
order, a solid backbone and some sterling soloing. Faye and the saxophonist
from Taupe briefly made up a three sax section but their
places were gradually taken by ordinary punters. By definition these feature
musicians of mixed abilities and it fell to precocious teenage guitarist to
take control with one of those solos which should
have been too long but you wanted it to go on and on. Pope favourite Spain brought
a memorable night to a close.

If we can get this on
quickly enough, please try to get to Fowlers Yard this evening (Sunday) for the Steve
Glendenning Quartet featuring the extraordinary vibraphonist Chris
Jelly. Then face the choice between brilliant multi-saxophonist Sue
Ferris, with another teenage whiz-kid Matthew MacKellar depping on
drums, or a two minute walk to the Empty Shop for our very own Duke Ellington,
Lord Paul and a trio Triptych.Steve T.

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Bebop Spoken Here -- Here, being the north-east of England -- centred in the blues heartland of Newcastle and reaching down to the Tees Delta and looking upwards to the Land of the Kilt.Not a very original title, I know; not even an accurate one as my taste, whilst centred around the music of Bird and Diz, extends in many directions and I listen to everything from King Oliver to Chick Corea and beyond. Not forgetting the Great American Songbook the contents of which has provided the inspiration for much great jazz and quality popular singing for round about a century.The idea of this blog is for you to share your thoughts and pass on your comments on discs, gigs, jazz - music in general. If you've been to a gig/concert or heard a CD that knocked you sideways please share your views with us. Tell us about your favourites, your memories, your dislikes.Lance (Who wishes it to be known that he is not responsible for postings other than his own and that he's not always responsible for them.)